Thank you Cynthia Erivo for ensuring the Tony Awards wasn't the Hamilton show

Passionate about dance, Stephanie's love of reality television and celebrity entertainment began with "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance." She has since discovered the wonders of the "Real Housewives," the Kardashia...

In an award show that has been dominated by Hamilton, it was nice to see another awesome musical take the spotlight. The Color Purple is nothing new, but its message is as important as ever. Yes, it attracted a lot of attention at the 2015 Tony Awards, but if the critics are to be believed, it was even more impressive in 2016. I certainly believe it after watching Erivo's awe-inspiring rendition of “I’m Here."

Image: CBS

Erivo has one amazing set of pipes, but what really kept me enthralled was her powerful stage presence. Her love of the stage was consistently evident, and her enthusiasm made me want to jump up and start singing as well. The audience was in obvious agreement, because Erivo received the first standing ovation of the evening.

After such an awe-inspiring performance, it would have been a crime for anyone other than Erivo to win Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. Yes, Hamilton's Phillipa Soo is great, but nobody can quite compare to Erivo.

At any rate, it's just nice to see something other than Hamilton take the spotlight. Hamilton definitely deserves recognition, but with so many nominations (and so many wins), tonight came very close to being Hamilton night at the Tonys. Other great works deserve recognition too!

Image: CBS

Erivo has been a darling of the critics for some time, but now she is also receiving the public recognition she deserves. Hopefully, now that the world has seen what she can do with her incredible voice, people will pay more attention to the equally incredible revival of The Color Purple.

What did you think of Cynthia Erivo's Tonys performance? Do she and her fellow cast members from The Color Purple deserve more recognition? Comment and share your opinion below.